A couple whose love of takeaways and daily visits to the 'cob van' saw them pile on the pounds have now lost more than eight stone between them - and they are happier than ever.

Husband and wife, Dawn and Mark Smith, from Ashby, weighed in at almost 50 stone and have now swapped fast food for a healthy eating regime.

Dawn, 29, said she was always overweight but she became tired of seeing her 'Winnie the Pooh' belly and, while she tipped the scales at 20 stone, her husband Mark was also gorging on fast food weighing in at almost 30 stone.

The pair decided to take action.

Dawn, who is mum to Cynthia, seven, and Isabelle, five, said: "I was always the fat kid at school. I have always been active and on the go but I just ate the wrong foods.

"McDonalds and Chinese food are my favourites and I was always popping into Greggs on the playgroup run."

Dawn has been unhappy with her weight for a long time (Image: Dawn Smith)

Dawn said her mum used to poke fun at her 'Winnie the Pooh belly' and she became embarrassed when the woman who runs the 'cob van' knew her order every day.

She said: "Shortbread is my real downfall but we would also snack on chocolate and crisps, sitting on the settee binging on them every nights.

"We would eat takeaways every night and between Mark and myself could get through at least half a loaf of bread at breakfast - just the two of us.